Andreas Mölzer, lead candidate of the far-right Austrian party Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ), decided to withdraw from the European Parliament elections yesterday (8 April) after turmoil caused by controversial remarks he made in February.

Mölzer, who has been a member of the European Parliament since 2004, said during a book presentation that “Nazi Germany is liberal compared to the dictatorship of the European Union”. He also warned that Europe is at risk of becoming a “conglomerate of Negros” that “lack the work ethic of Germans and Austrians”.

Austrian president Heinz Fischer and several political parties called upon Mölzer to withdraw his candidacy. Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the FPÖ party, asked him to take his words back. A party spokesperson said: “FPÖ distances itself from national-socialism and racism and sees itself as a patriotic Austrian political power.”

Mölzer defended himself, claiming that he had not said anything dishonest, except “the politically incorrect formulation of non-conformist opinions". He said he was quitting because of his respect for his party, not because of the pressure of “politically correct Austria”.

FPÖ, which currently has two MEPs, is expected to get more than 20% of the Austrian votes, winning as many as four seats in the new European Parliament. The party plans to join the European Alliance for Freedom, a grouping of right-wing parties aiming to form a political group after the May elections. Mölzer's remarks provoked outrage with the Swedish Democrats, one of the current members of the alliance, which threatened to leave the group if Mölzer did not stand down.